The Premier Soccer League (PSL) will contribute towards the burial of a Kaizer Chiefs fan who was shot inside a stadium.

The last-minute decision came as Ntandazo Mbeje's family was struggling to raise funds for the funeral of the Cape Town soccer lover who died during a Kaizer Chiefs game in Port Elizabeth two Saturdays ago.

Mbeje had travelled for eight hours on a taxi from Cape Town to watch his team, Kaizer Chiefs, lift the league title in Port Elizabeth.

Mbeje, who was his family's breadwinner, died when fans invaded the pitch. A policeman's gun accidentally went off and the bullet hit him in the upper body. He died on the field.

Kaizer Chiefs last week seemed indifferent to the Mbeje's situation and said they had no financial obligations towards the family. This decision upset many people in soccer circles who accused Chiefs of not looking after their supporters even though they have a funeral policy offer for their fans.

Mbeje's older brother, Bongani Mxhoba, said an employee from the PSL called him yesterday afternoon to tell him his family would receive R30000 before Mbeje's funeral in the Eastern Cape on Sunday.

"The money will help us a lot because we were still behind on raising the funds for my brother's funeral," said Mxhoba.

He said his family will launch a lawsuit against the police ministry soon after the funeral. The Independent Police Investigative Directorate is still investigating Mbeje's death.

PSL CEO Brand de Villiers confirmed their contribution.

"We are not doing this to get publicity. We are just helping out the family," he said.

sifilel@sowetan.co.za